How Did I Miss Out on This?

Imagine my surprise the other night when I got a text from one of my best friends who lives just a few miles away, that said, “Did you see it?!” with this picture:

My jaw dropped. Then I ran to the window—but by the time I got there, all I saw was darkness.

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I sat there thinking,?“How did I miss out on this??How did she hear about it in time, and I didn’t?”

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(Followed by wondering a bit ruefully why she waited until five minutes after the fact to tell me!)

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It turns out that, incredibly, the Northern Lights (i.e., the Aurora Borealis—usually only visible from Iceland and similar geographies) were visible from many places that Thursday night, including from my little Philadelphia suburb.

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And my friend found out because she happens to follow a local meteorologist’s Facebook page who announced it.

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It’s quite simple: I didn’t know to look for information about it (why would I?), and I wasn’t talking to or following the right people, so I missed out on what was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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Drat.

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Have you ever felt like that?

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Like you missed out on something great because you didn’t find out in time, or didn’t have the right connections?

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The worst is when it’s a job opportunity.

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It used to drive me nuts when I was in the academic world. I’d apply for professorships, knowing there were 200 applicants for every open position. I’d sometimes get interviews, only to find out later that there was an inside candidate all along.

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How did that person?get the inside track??And how could I get on it?

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One thing I can honestly say now, looking back, is that at the time,?I had no idea how to build, cultivate or leverage my network.?

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Sure, I went to conferences, exchanged business cards, and connected with people on LinkedIn. But today, if I could go back and have a heart-to-heart conversation with my past self, I'd say:

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“So what?”

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Just attending conferences is like going to Home Depot when you want to plant a garden. The seeds are there, but merely standing in the store with them isn't going to do you a bit of good.

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The same goes for swapping business cards or LinkedIn connections. That’s like bringing the seeds home but leaving them in the envelope on your desk.

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On their own, they bear no fruit.

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When you’re looking for a new job—especially at the executive level—it’s the well-cultivated network that provides the inside scoop on opportunities and tips the scales in your favor.

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It’s how you?stop?being one of hundreds of faceless applicants?whose resumes will never see the light of day.

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That’s exactly what we focus on in my?Quantum Leap Executive Transitions program.

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It’s all about tipping the scales in your favor,?starting by?mastering the art and science of cultivating and leveraging your network—especially when you’re on the hunt for your next executive role.

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In the program, we cover everything you need to:

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• Send cold invitations to key people on LinkedIn and?actually get a response
• Tactfully reach out to acquaintances, peers, and friends to let them know you’re seeking new opportunities
• Ask the right questions, to the right people, in the right way, at the right time to get on the inside track.

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This approach helps?reveal priceless information, such as:

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• Current or soon-to-be-open?positions?that might not even be posted yet
• Introductions?they could make to get you some company or industry advice
• Virtual or in-person?events?that could help you connect with decision-makers
• Key buzzwords and organizational language that could?help your resume stand out—whether through AI screening or in human hands
• Insights?about the role you're pursuing or the person in charge of hiring

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After all, the old saying?“It’s not what you know, but who you know”?rings true for a reason!

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But leveraging your network is only part of the equation.

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In the?Quantum Leap Executive Transitions program, we also focus on

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• Personal branding
• Interviewing tactics
• The art and science of storytelling
• Negotiating

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and more.

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These areas all work together to?increase your skills and confidence,?both of which contribute powerfully to your?success at each step?along the way.

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Why continue to take the meandering road, letting the search drag on for months, when you can expedite the process and?take the shortest, fastest route to success!

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If you're ready to stop missing out on opportunities and start leveraging the power of your network, check out all the details about the?Quantum Leap Executive Transitions?program at?QuantumLeap-Coaching.com.

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Speaking of things you won't want to miss out on, there's something exciting brewing in the podcast world!

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For now,?Speaking to Influence?is on a temporary hiatus while I'm working on a?special mini-series that looks at the “power behind the power” at the highest levels.

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In other words, the world's top leaders also have advisors… so what do?those?relationships look like?

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How do you “manage up” at that level? And how do decisions get made,?especially when they impact millions of people?

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Stay tuned for more information next week!